Posted on 11/21/2006 6:35:31 AM PST by gondramB
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said.
They said gunmen opened fire as his convoy drove through the Christian Sin el-Fil neighborhood. Gemayel was rushed to hospital where he later died of his wounds.
Lebanon is in the throes of a political storm pitting the anti-Syrian ruling majority against the pro-Damascus opposition. The political tension threatens to spill into street confrontations.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
Who will be the first to blame Bush?
I think it was more personal than that:
According to witnesses a car crashed into the ministers car from behind. Then the assassin got out of the car, walked over to the ministers car, and fired from close range.
There was one article on Google news 32 minutes ago. 196 now
http://news.google.com/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&ncl=1111397285
I read a little French... Google follows 500 French news sources, 22 have a story so far and as I read the tone its much lower key - maybe they don't want to deal with a crisis while its their Peace Keepers stuck there.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=fr&ned=fr&q=Gemayel&ie=UTF-8
Makes sense, take out the driver to slow or stop the vehicle, presenting a trapped and immobilized primary target waiting to be nailed. No way out then. Were the tires also flattened? How did the victim get to the hospital? Was he DOA? Any word on shot placement or number of rds in the victim? This could be more than a run of the mill Jihadi marksman. Maybe it's imported talent? Freelance pro? Plenty of those around.
---According to witnesses a car crashed into the ministers car from behind. Then the assassin got out of the car, walked over to the ministers car, and fired from close range.---
Road rage.
The son of Hariri??
Son or nephew (I am assuming you are referring to Bachir Gemayel, murdered by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party 24 years ago)?
But that doesn't square with the shots to the driver or the other groups in the door or window. Wouldn't do that from point blank range. Perhaps there were two shooters? (Grassy knoll theory) One stops the vehicle by taking out the driver. Shooter #2 following offers the Coup'de grace by walking up and finishing the job. DOA.
No. His father was killed 25 years ago - inciting much civil unrest.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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Thanks...after I posted that, I figured I was wrong.
I appreciate the help.
I thought I read Baghdad.
An assassination like this backs up MEMRI's warning that Lebanon is heading toward civil war.
Inquiry & Analysis-Lebanon
November 21, 2006
No. 301
Lebanon on the Brink of Civil War (2)
To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit:
http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=IA30106
By H. Varulkar*
The Gemayel's car was squeezed front and rear by two cars during broad daylight, another one stopped by and opened fire on Gemayel who was driving his car.
This comes during a crucial moment where the opposition is planning demonstrations and rallies against the government. I guess we can say goodbye to the demonstrations.
The UNSC is debating the international tribunal for the murder of Hariri . This new assassination should give a boost to the tribunal.
Just like we are being urged to do now in Iraq, the Syrians need to be including in the Lebanese peace process to help in seeking a "solution". After all, if Syria has a place at the table, everybody can all talk reasonably together and negotiate a Grand Bargain, right?... Right?? /s
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